1. Employment Opportunities for International Students in the United States
Presented by:
Fina Alatas, Adviser,

2. What is EducationUSA?
A U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries.
The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institution in the United States.

3. 8 centers 10 advisers EducationUSA Indonesia
EducationUSA Indonesia – U.S. Embassy Jakarta
– Pacific Place, Jakarta
EducationUSA Surabaya – U.S. Consulate General Surabaya
EducationUSA Surabaya – Universitas Surabaya
EducationUSA Medan – U.S. Consulate Medan
EducationUSA Malang – Universitas Muhammadiyah, Malang
EducationUSA Makassar – Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
EducationUSA Banda Aceh – Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar-Raniry, Aceh

4. EducationUSA NETWORK promote Our services?
By the U.S. Department of State over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries.
U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.
Learn about the
variety of options
available and
how to identify
an institution that best fits your
needs.
Need funding?
Explore options
or check out our university
financial aid
opportunity list.
Plan ahead and
know the
documents and
requirements to
apply for your
program.
Become familiar with U.S. student visa requirements and allow plenty of time to
prepare your
application.
Pre-departure
information
including
gathering
documents for
arrival and
immigration
compliance.

5. Study and Exchange Visas
A U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries.
The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institution in the United States.

6. F-1 VISA Student Visas (F, M) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J)
An F-1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program at a US college or university.
This visa categories include: University or college, high school, private elementary school, seminar, conservatory, and another academic institution, including a language training program

7. M-1 VISA Student Visas (F, M) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J)
The M-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for international students who wish to pursue a course of study that is not principally academic in nature. The M-1 visa is for vocational or non-academic students and an M-1 vocational student is admitted for no more than one year at a time.
There are many fewer M-1 than F-1 students overall. If your intention is to study and obtain a degree, you should apply as an international undergraduate or graduate student with an F-1 visa.
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8. J-1 VISA Student Visas (F, M) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J)
Exchange visitor (J-1) visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. The programs include promoting cultural exchange and applicants must be sponsored either by a university, private sector or government program.
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9. F-1 Employment Options

10. Employment for F-1 Visa
Most international students in the United States hold an F-1 visa and F-1 students are allowed to work in the United States, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment.
After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in the three type of off-campus employment:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)

11. You can work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session
On-Campus Employment
You can work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session

12. You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods.
On-Campus Employment
You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods.
Note: Only if you intend to register for the next academic semester

13. On-Campus Employment
Talk to the International Student Office (ISO) of your Designated School Officials (DSOs).
Note: DSOs can answer your questions and guide your through the process of studying in the United States.

14. On-Campus Employment
You need a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to work. Talk to your DSO.

15. On-Campus Employment
Dependents in F-2 visa status may not accept employment in the U.S. They may volunteer only if the position in which they are interested has always been a volunteer position, and always will be.
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16. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, including: “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreement with the school.”
CPT is available only prior to the completion of your degree program and you must have a job offer at the time of application. CPT employment may not delay completion of the academic program.
You need to have a job offer ready to be eligible for CPT.
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17. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
There are two types of CPT: required and not required.
Required CPT is when the academic program mandates practical work training experience in order to graduate.
Not required or option CPT is when the practical work experience is for credit and directly related to your field of study. (Note: You must be enrolled in a CPT course)
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18. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
There are two categories of CPT: Part-time CPT and full-time CPT
Part-time CPT: Employment for 20 hours or less per week is considered part-time. You must be simultaneously enrolled in classes full-time in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.
Full-time CPT: Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time. Please be aware that 12 months or more of full-time CPT will invalidate your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). During the academic year (fall and winter/spring semesters), you must be simultaneously enrolled full-time (12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 8 credit hours for graduate students) in order to maintain lawful F-1 status, unless it is your last term of enrollment.
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19. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
International students in the U.S. in valid F-1 immigration status are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after completion of their degree.
You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but you cannot begin employment until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and you have been enrolled for at least a year.
You do not need to have a job offer to apply for your OPT EAD, and your OPT employment can occur anywhere in the US.
USCIS takes up to 90 days to process your application – work closely with your school’s International Student Office.
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20. Employment must be “directly related” to the student’s major.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Employment must be “directly related” to the student’s major.

21. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Student must apply for OPT before completion of all work towards a degree.

22. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Students who have engaged in 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are not eligible for OPT.

23. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total. Part-time OPT (while still in school) reduces available full-time OPT by half of the amount of part-time work (for instance, if you work part-time for 6 months, you can work full-time for up to 9 months).
Note: Students can be authorized for 12 months of OPT for each successive level of degree achieved – for instance, you can do 12 months of OPT after receiving your undergraduate degree, go back to graduate school, and then do 12 months of OPT after receiving your graduate degree.

24. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Authorization for OPT is granted by USCIS and processing can take up to 3 months. Therefore it is important that you apply for the authorization well in advance of the date you wish to start working. You may apply up to 120 days before the start date that you choose.
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25. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
There are two types of OPT: Pre-completion OPT (students are still in school) and post-completion OPT (students have completed their degree).
OPT before completing a degree:
Students must be enrolled in school full-time
Students may only work 20 hours per week while school is in session
Students may work full-time during summer and other breaks (as long as the student will return to school after the break)
Student may work full-time after completion of all coursework, if a thesis or dissertation is still required and student is making normal progress towards the degree
OPT after completing a degree:
After completion of your degree, OPT work must be full time (40 hours/week)
All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree
Applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS before the completion of the degree
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26. CPT vs. OPT at a Glance
CPT: Student must be registered for a course corresponding to the employment of experience
OPT: No course registration required
CPT: May only be used before completing one’s studies
OPT: May be used during one’s studies (pre-completion OPT) and after completing one’s studies (post-completion OPT)
CPT: Semester-specific
OPT: Not semester-specific
CPT: 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates eligibility for OPT. Part-time CPT employment does not affect eligibility for OPT
OPT: Any periods of pre-completion OPT, whether part- or full-time, are deducted from the total 12-month OPT period.

27. CPT vs. OPT at a Glance (cont’d)
CPT: Employer specific – student can only work for the employer listed on the student’s I-20 and in SEVIS
OPT: Not employer specific – student can work for any employer as long as the position is related to his/her field of study
CPT: Processing time is 5-7 business days
OPT: Processing times vary, but are generally 1-3 months

28. STEM OPT Extension
Students who have earned degrees in certain science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields may apply for 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization if they:
Are an F-1 student who received a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List
Are employed by an employer enrolled in E-Verify, and
Received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree.
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29. J-1 Employment Options

30. J-1 Employment
There are two categories of employment available to J-1 students:
Student Employment
Academic Training
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31. J-1 Student Employment
There are three types of student employment available to J-1 students:
Employment required by a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship. This employment occurs on campus, and is paid by the campus.
On-campus jobs unrelated to study.
Off-campus jobs necessary because of serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances that have arisen since your arrival in the United States as an Exchange Visitor.
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32. J-1 Academic Training
Academic Training (AT) offers employment to supplement your academic program in the United States. It is available before completion of your program of study as well as afterwards. As long as you stay within the stipulated time limits, it lets you work part-time while classes are in session and full-time during vacation periods; and, under certain circumstances, you may interrupt study to work full-time, for example while you are writing a thesis.
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33. J-1 Academic Training
Obtain approval in writing from your J-1 Responsible Officer (R.O) or Alternate Responsible Officer (A.R.O) in the Office of Visa and Immigration Services.

34. J-1 Academic Training
The proposed employment must be directly related to your major of study.

35. J-1 Academic Training
It may not exceed the period of full course of study, or 18 months, whichever is shorter.
Note: If you receive a Ph.D., however, your post-doctoral training may last as long as 36 months, as long as it is valid, supervised, post-doctoral research.

36. J-1 Academic Training
AT approved after completion of your program must be reduced by any prior periods of Academic Training.

37. J-2 Employment
In most cases a J-2 Visa holder can seek employment. To work, a J-2 Visa holder must obtain an Employment Authorization Document from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 Visa holder.
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38. Questions Time!